Following split, Mike Dolce perplexed by Quinton Jackson's criticism

Mike Dolce has one question for Quinton Jackson: “Why would you do that?”

The nutrition/weight-cutting consultant and former fighter has been perplexed by the ex-champ’s attack on him in the buildup to to this Saturday’s UFC on FOX 6 event.

“I did the best work for Quinton, and I’m proud of that,” Dolce told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio).

In an interview with ESPN.com, Jackson (32-10 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who meets Glover Teixeira (19-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) at Chicago’s United Center, intimated that Dolce harmed him by “experimenting” with his diet and forcing him to cut excess weight.

Humorously, he pointed to Dolce’s Nutella sandwiches as one culprit.

“Maybe he’s trying to hype his fight,” Dolce said. “Maybe it was very tongue in cheek.”

Still, Dolce posted a video of Jackson prior to weigh-ins for a fight against Evans, in which he raved about the ease of his weight cut.

Dolce said Jackson hired him in 2008 after losing to Forrest Griffin at UFC 86, and the two hit it off. Professionally, the fighter’s career turned around with wins over Wanderlei Silva and Keith Jardine.

But the fight with Evans at UFC 114 proved to be a turning point in their partnership. After a year-plus layoff, Jackson came into training camp at 251 pounds with eight weeks until fight time, Dolce said.

In a subsequent fight with Lyoto Machida at UFC 123, “Rampage” came in at 260 pounds.

“He wouldn’t do the things in the offseason that I requested of him to keep him healthy so he could perform well,” Dolce said. “It just became less professional of a relationship, and my phone was constantly ringing.

“I have other elite athletes. I have so many guys that I currently work with, and my phone is always ringing for new world-class guys. It’s not fair to other people that I can help that really want the help.

“Quinton, he wanted to win, it seemed. He wanted to look good and win. But he didn’t want that 12-month help like a lot of these other high-level athletes, like Vitor Belfort, Thiago Alves and Nik Lentz – guys like that that really want that coach-athlete relationship.”

There were also changes to Jackson’s camp that made Dolce uncomfortable.

“There were changes to his lifestyle and the people around him, and it became increasingly difficult and less professional for me to be involved,” he said.

Dolce excused himself from Jackson after the fighter’s lackluster win over Matt Hamill at UFC 130. Jackson lost his next two bouts: Champ Jon Jones submitted him at UFC 135, and Ryan Bader outpointed him at UFC 144, where for the first time in his career he missed weight.

Dolce described the split as amicable, so when Jackson recently went on the offensive, he was taken aback. Yet he holds no ill will toward the fighter and plans to get to the root of the issue when they see each other next.

“It will be a hug and a conversation,” Dolce said. “When two people talk face to face, then everything changes. Then the reality comes out. He’s just surrounded by a whole different crew of people, and they’re not bad people, just a different type.”

MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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